BJP's excitement over K'taka result a 'misconception': Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said today the BJP's excitement over Karnataka election result was "misconception" since its vote share was less than the Congress although it won more number of seats.

Though the Congress won 26 fewer seats than the BJP in the bitterly fought Karnataka election, its vote share was nearly two per cent points higher.

"Despite being second in place in terms of seats, the Congress got nearly 6 lakh more votes than the BJP. People have not given clear mandate to the BJP to make government in Karnataka. The over-excitement of the BJP on the election result is its mere misconception, Pilot said.

At the end of counting of votes for 222 of the 224 constituencies, the BJP emerged as the single largest party, bagging 104 seats with a vote share of 36.2 per cent while the Congress came second with 78 seats accounting for 38 per cent of the votes.

According to the official data, the Congress' vote share rose marginally to 38 per cent in the current polls from 36.6 per cent in 2013 but the party had to settle for lesser seats. The ruling party had a strength of 122 MLAs in the outgoing house.

On the other hand, the BJP's vote share remained marginally lower than that of Congress but at 36.2 per cent, it recorded its highest so far and also managed to bag more seats. However, it will fall short of nine seats for a comfortable majority in a House of 224. The BJP had 40 seats in the outgoing house.

Pilot alleged that the BJP was targeting castes and dividing people on the basis of religion and communities for votes.

"The BJP has always blamed Congress for casteism but it is a reality that BJP leaders have divided the society, he said.